Daily devotional, December 29, 2023 Every breath you take
"‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Revelation 21:4
One of the most painful things about having a wound is getting it cleaned. Whether it is the first time or the successive occasions of cleansing, the affected part stings. Apparently, that sting is due to the skin’s chemical reaction with the disinfecting solution. The lingering pain on the other hand, during the first few days is a sign that the immune system is working to fight off infection.
Just like in the wound, the sting of sin can continue to cause us pain. Yes, we may have confessed it to Jesus Christ, and we have been repenting on it, but its consequences could continue to hound us.
"The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love."
Psalm 33:5
It may sometimes be difficult to understand why a past mistake could continue to haunt us, when we have confessed it already and have been truly sorry for committing it. But as biblical scholars say, that sting is a manifestation that yes our Lord is merciful God, but He is also a God of justice.
A good example is when the Lord did not allow Moses to enter the Promise Land due to His disobedience and lack of faith in Meribah Kadesh. He maybe one of the Lord’s most loyal servants, but he did not get exempted from the consequences of his sins:
"Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”
Numbers 20:12
If a faithful servant like Moses was not exempted, what more us ordinary sinful people? When I think about this, I remember what Rev. Fr. Jerry Orbos says when asked about suffering from past mistakes, illnesses, and other personal crises. He said, let us offer the pain of suffering to the Lord as penance for all the sins we have committed. That way, it is easier to accept why we still have to feel that sting in our wound, even if we have already presented our contrite heart to Jesus Christ.
“My sacrifice, O God, isa broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” Psalm 51:17
In his letter to the Hebrews, St. Paul the Apostle encouraged the church to think of suffering and pain as part of the sanctification process that children of God have to go through.
"For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?"
Hebrews 12:6-7
And as we continue to endure and suffer towards our sanctification, let us remain focused on our prize of gaining eternal life. In the end, Moses may not have been allowed to enter the Promise Land, but God allowed him to His kingdom and to spend eternal life with him. This is proven by Moses’ appearance in Jesus’ transfiguration:
"There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus." Matthew 17:2-3
In the end, no season in our life with Christ is wasted. All of the tears we have and will shed will be for a deeper purpose. And every sting of pain and suffering will help sanctify us, so that Just like Moses, we can enter and spend eternity in the kingdom of heaven.
Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Hebrews 12:3-11 and Numbers 20:1-12 to dig deeper on today’s topic.
Reflection Question: Do you still feel the sting of your past failures and mistakes? How can acceptance and faith help you overcome it?
Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, thank you for your love and mercy. Strengthen my heart as I endure the sting of the consequences of my past sins so that I could offer back all the pain to you as penance.
